Mr. Bass of Arkansas Winner to Bag $7,000

The upcoming Mr. Bass of Arkansas fishing tournament winner will bag a $7,000 cash prize if the tourney attracts over 90 boats. The bass fishing event on Saturday, March 3, 2024, at Lake Ouachita is the 2nd installment of the 4-part series leading up to the 2-day classic championship in June. 

The tourney is organized by Trader Bills and is open to all anglers. Interested parties can register in person at Trader Bills and Southern Reel Outfitters or online at www.traderbills.com. There’s a $100 membership fee and a $300 entry fee for each tournament, including the classic championship. All credit card payments are subject to a $10 handling fee. 

Contestants must register by 11:59 p.m. Wednesday before each tournament. Late entries are subject to a $25 late fee. Participants who missed the first mandatory meeting must attend a 1-hour orientation session before they can participate in the tourney. 

Mr. Bass of Arkansas Tournament Rules

All anglers must submit to the Mr. Bass of Arkansas Tournament rules. Unlike other bass fishing events, Mr. Bass of Arkansas is an individual fishing tourney. All participants must observe the highest level of sportsmanship and conservation. 

Only artificial lures and pork trailers are permitted in the catch-and-release fishing event. Anglers are prohibited from using assistive technology to locate the fish or gain an edge during the tournament. Anglers can launch their boats from any public ramp an hour before sunrise but may not cast their rods until sunrise. Weigh-in is at 3 p.m., and any participant who misses the 3:30 p.m. cut-off time will be disqualified. 

Only three bass species — largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass — are eligible for weigh-in, and there’s a 5 bass limit per contestant. There’s a 12” length limit for all bass caught during the event. Any short fish presented will be disqualified, and the angler will face a 1-pound deduction. 

All anglers must present their catch in the water-filled weigh-in bags provided by Traders Bills. An angler may only present one dead fish during the weigh-in, but there’s a half-pound deduction for the dead fish. Participants are charged with releasing their catch back into the water. Those who fail to release their bass will be disqualified from the tourney and lose their points. 

Feb 23, 2024 - The tourney will fete the top 12 finishes with cash prizes if the event attracts more than 90 entries. The angler with the heaviest catch will carry the day and bag $7,000 and improved championship standings. All participants must consent to a polygraph test. Any contestant who fails a polygraph test will be disqualified.